Automatic train-pipe coupling.



I. v. ROBINSON.

AUTOMATIC TRAINPIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED 001.1. I9I4. IINEwO sEPST. Ia, 1911.

1 ,245,79'7. Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

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I. v. ROBINSON. AuToMIIII'c TRAIN PIPE couPLIIIIG.v APPLICATION FILED GCT. 1,'1914`JRE-NEWED SEPT. I3, 1917.

1,245,797.. Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I. V. ROBINSON.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. II I9I4. RENEWED SEPT. I3. 19|?.

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'AUTOMATIC TRAIN-Pirie ooUiiLiNG.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

Application led October 1, 1914,' S =ria1'NO. 864,464. Renewed seiiteniber, 1917. Serial lo. 191,813.

To all whom t may concern.' i Be it known that I, Josniii V. ROBINSON, a citizenof they United States, and a resident of Branford, county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Traingaskets between the faces of coupled train pipe couplings without rst uncoupling the cars. The constructions heretofore by which this has been accomplished add eXtra parts to and complicate the coupling'. In addition, to Aan element, of

some expose the operator danger and are susceptibleto leal-:s unless great care be exercised by the trainmen in manipulating them.

The object of the present invention is to obviate 'these objections and produce' a simple, efficient means for renewing defective gaskets which does not add any extra parts to the coupling and is safe and efficient.

To this end my invention consists inthe combinations,y arrangements and constructions hereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claims, .and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings,- in which:

Figure 1, is a side view of an automatic train pipe coupling provided with'my improvement, some of the parts being shown'in elevation and some in section.

Fig. 2, is a horizontal section of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is a detail section of the union for securing the usual train pipe hose to the automatic coupling.

Fig. 4, is a face improvement.

Fig. 5, is a view of the base of my provement, coupled up in service; one of the couplings being shown in one. of the positions to which it is shifted in renewing a defective gasket, and

Fig. 6, is a plan view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 5, showing one of the couplings in the final adjusted position. The spring of the adjusted connector is omitted. Referring to the drawings andparticu-i, larly to Figs. 1 and 2, I show my improve-Y ment applied to a well-known type of train pipe connector comprising coupling head A, a body member B, a base C, and a spring D. suitably connected with one another and side elevation of a pair. of` automatic couplings provided with myr im-v arranged for eicient operation. The base C consists of halves 7, each provided with an elongated bearingv 8, the halves being bolted together about the `body member B, and cured to a lug 9, ofthe usual car coupler10,

l by bolts 11.

. rI he member B-'carries a eurved'conduit'E which' extends through said head-and receives the usual train pipe hose in any suit-A able manner preferably in the manner hereinafter described. A slot 13, extends through the sides of the member B and receives a pivot bar 14 having ends- 15 which project outwardlyv from the'sides of the member B into the bearings 8 ofthebase C. A'te rod 16 is suitably journaled on the pivot' bar at 17 and extends rearwardly ofthe member B and the base. Surroundingthe tie rod and bearing against the rear face of projections 18 on the member'B is the sprin D. `A nut or abutment 19 screwed on to t e real' end vof the tie rod maintains the spring under slight initial compression against `the {.rojection 18, whereby the projections are firmly pressed against the rear face 2 0 of the base C, thus yieldingly supporting t e coupling head A. l This construction permits free unversal movement of the coupling head and operates to place it under pressure in coupling, effecting an eicient air-tightl joint between the gaskets of mating heads. The

. various parts are, of course, proportioned to give the required strength and 'range of move-ment to successfully negotiate all the conditions of service.

In further carrying out my improved means of renewing defective gaskets, I thread the tie rod 16 at 21 for a considerable distance and provide the nut 19 with a sleeve* or stem 22 threaded to lmate with the threads of the tie rod.4 To eect vthe renewal.\.ofa defective gasket, the usual train pipe hose-23 is disconnected from the conduntE of the member B Aby giving the hose a quarter turn which will free its member 24 from thelugs 25 of a fitting 26 in theconnector, whereupon the nut 19 is 4shifted rearwardly onthe tie rod 16 from the position shown at.X Iin v Fig. 5to' the position shown at Y in the same ligure' which frees the gaskets 27 of the coupling heads from the pressure Of the springs D. 1

Further rearward movement of the nut 19 will back it Oif the tie. rod whereupon the coupling head A and themember B may be shifted to the position shown in Fig. 6.

BEST AVAILABLE COF" from which position the gasket-27 mounted m the conduit E may be readily removed and a new one substituted without uncon-- pling the cars. lThe reverse of the foregoing operation will put the connectorsback into their normal coupled position. Y y

Inrenewing a `defective gasket it may be found desirable to. remove the pivot bar 14 from the base 'C by shiftingit forwardly out of the. 4bearings 8 and` laterally'through'the slot 13, out of the body member B, and thus allow greater rearward movement of the coupling head A. In Fig. 61- the pivot bar has been thus removecLf By leaving the bottonir29`1of the base opemthe member B may be completely removed therefrom when the pivot bar has been'taken ou't, in the manner described. Y Y Y The foregoing construction provides a simple and eiiicientmeans of renewing .de-4

Letters Patent is: l

i l. InV an auto'ma'tictrain pipe coupling, the combination of a coupling head, a. support therefor comprising .i base 'and a resilient member, said member being normally under compression and opcrating1to project said head forwardly of said base, and means for gradually freeing'saidmember. of` said compression and permitting movement thereof longitudinally- .oflsaid base. when said head is coupled upt in service, wherebyv the faces of 'mated coupling heads may be separated for the purpose described.

' 2. In an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination ofl a ycoupling he'ad, a support therefor comprising a base and a spring, said spring being normally under compression and operating to project said head for' [wardly of said base, and' means for gradually freeing saidl .spring of said compression andY for .permitting movement thereof longitudinally of said base when said head is coupled upin sei-vice. whereby the faces `ofmatedcoupling heads'may be sepa-rated forthe purpose described, said means consisting' of an abutment forsaid spring.

3. In fan. automatic train pipe coupling, the combination of a coupling head, a base, av stem extending from said head through said base. a fluid conduit connected with said lstein. a pi-ing resting on the stein in reap of said conduit. said spring being normally undeil compression and acting to project said head torwardljY ol said base, and means for freeingrsaid spring of said compression @sand for permitting gradual adjustment-of the spring longitudinally of said base-whensaid head is coupled up inservice, whereby thefaces of coupled heads vmay be separated for the purpose described. Y

4.. I n an automatic train pipe coupling,

tionarybas'e through which the body of the coupling .head extends, a coiled spring arrangedy between an abutment carried'by the base and a member of the coupling head toproje'ct the head forward of the base, the spring. abutment connected with the base being adjustable relative to the base and accessible atall times, whereby the head ma y 'be relieved from the pressure ofthe spring and the faces of coupled heads separated' while the cars carrying the couplers are connected. 4^

A 5. In an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination of a coupling head` a base.

a member extending from said head through said base,v a fluid conduit connected with -70 the combination of a coupling head, a stasaid member, a'rod extendingl rearwardly from saidA base, a spring surrounding said rod 'and bearing against. said. member at the rear'of the base, said spring being maintained in position under initial compression. and -means for freeing said spring of said compression to permit said head to be shifted rearwardly toward said base whereby the faces of coupled heads may be separated to removea defective gasket withoutfirst uncoupling the4 cars. v l

. J6. In an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination of a coupling head, a 'stationary base through which the body ofthe coupling head entends, a. rod connected with the base and l.extending rearwardly .therefrom, a sleeve mounted on and having threaded engagement with the rod, and a coil springarianged between an abutment carried b v said sleeve and an abutment car riedby the head, said sleeve being adapted to be vadjusted longitudinally of the rod at all times, substantially as and for the purpose described. l l

i 7. I n an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination of a coupling head, a base, a stem extending from said head through said bas,e"a rod pivotaily connected with said base and extending rearwardly beyond the rear end of said stem, a spring surroundservice position without Iii-.at uncoupling the cars. i r

8. In an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination of a coul'iling h'ead. a base, a steinrexteiuling from said head tl'n'ougli 'said bliss, a rod pivotally'connected with said base and extendingA rearwardly beyond the rear ends of the coupling head and saidthrough said base and carrying a projection, -t a stem pivoted 1n said base and extending rearwardly thereof axially of said member, a spring surrounding said stemv and hearing against said proJection, an abutment against which the rear end of said spring rests, said abutment being screwed on to said stem and adapted to permit shifting of said head rear. wardly from the coupled position to effect the renewal of a defective gasket.

10. In an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination of a coupling head, a fluid conduit terminating between said head and base, a hose connected with said conduit, means for permitting read)Y disconnection of the hose from saidv conduit. a member connected Awith the conduit and extending throulgh sa/i/,d base, a projection on said member, a rod pivotall;Y conne'cted with the base and projecting rearwardlg` therefrom, a

spring surrounding said rod and bearing against said projectionto sustain said head in the coupling position, and means threaded on to said rod for permitting shifting of said head from the coupled service position While the cars are coupled, whereby the face of coupled heads may be exposed. for repairs'.

11. In an automatic train pipe coupling,

the combination of 'a coupling head, a base provided with an elongated bearing, a fluid copduit for said head connected with a member which extends through said base, a bar extending through an opening in said member into said bearing, the bearing being open at one end to permit assembl)7 of the bar therein from the front of said base, a rod pivotallyfconnected to said bar and extending rearwardly of'the base, a spring surrounding said rod and pressing said pro jection against the rear face of said base to support said head, and means for shifting said spring longitudinally of lsaid rod whereby said bar mayv be removed from saidbearing without disturbing said base.

In testimoniv whereof, I have hereinto set my hand in the presence of two-` witnesses.

JOSEPH V. ROBIN SON. In the presence of- M. C. SHERIDAN. KATHERINE V. BoswELL. 

